Boxing machine



C. M HESSON BOXING MACHINE Feb. 12, 1935.

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BOXING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I Q JO.

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5 invention residing in Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOXING Charles Milton Hesson,

The New-Way Canning Machine Company, Westminster, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application May 18, 1929, Serial No. 364,229

My invention relates to 9 Claims.

new and useful improvements in boxing machines and more particularly to a machine containers or articles,

whereby the cans or other to be boxed may ator, and means whereby either manually operated for boxing cans or similar the principal object of the the provision of means containers or articles be discharged from either or both sides of the machine, at

the will of the operthe machine may be or motor driven, the

boxes being supported by the machine in proper position to receive the cans or other containers or articles and said supporting means being adapted for adjustment to to be deposited upon a Another object consists way whereby the cans or articles are fed to the plurality of layers or containing the desired other articles to be boxed,

allow the filled boxes suitable conveyor.

in providing a guidesimilar containers or boxing mechanism in a tiers, each layer or tier number of the cans or and the provision of means whereby the cans or articles of the layers or tiers are simultaneously discharged into the box. At this point I migh may be of any board, wood, or the like.

A further object of making the guideway, other articles to the able and adapted to be ing mechanism upon mov init t state that the boxes desired material, such as cardthe invention resides in which delivers the cans or boxing mechanism, moved away from the boxial movement of the ejecting mechanism, members being provided to retain the cans or other within the guideway containers or articles during the time that said guideway is positioned away from the boxing mechanism, the guideway initial position after each the cans or other a-rtcles will be fed therefrom into ejecting mechanism.

being returned to its ejectng operation and released so that they position relative to the Still another object resides in so forming the support for the box that filled the support may be when the box has been swung into such position relative to a conveyor that the conveyor engages the face of the box and removes the same from the support, the support being further formed so that the cans or tier will be engaged the box when the box be readily removed with placement therein and without of the lowermost layer by the inner surface of is raised and the cans may the box without dissuch frictional engagement with the supports as to cause any (iisarrangement of the cans or preventing their ready removal with the box.

As a further object, when operated to discharge cans one side thereof, and is in means, controlled by the the machine is being or the like only from otor driven, I provide operator, for initially starting the ejecting mechanism to eject the cans and means for automatical 1y reversing the eject- IVIAOHINE Hanover, Pa., assignor to (Cl. 226I5) ing mechanism after the completion of the ejecting movement to return the same to its initial position.

As still further object, when the machine is used for ejecting cans or the like from both sides thereof, and is motor driven, I provide means on each side of the machine, to be controlled by an operator, to start the ejecting movement of the ejecting mechanism, said ejecting mechanism being automatically stopped at the limit of the ejecting movement.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood made as will fall pended claims.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a top plan.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an end View.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan of the clutch mechanism and automatic stop and reverse mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan, partly in horizontal section, showing the operating mechanism for the means used in retaining the cans or other articles within the guideway when the guideway is moved away from the boxing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of the guideway moving mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section through a box and the supporting means therefor, with the cans shown in end elevation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged top plan showing the guideway in position away from the ejecting mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section on the line 11-41 of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

My improved form of boxing machine is relatively small in size and may be used in connection with a can labeling machine, the guideway for the boxing machine being so positioned as to receive the cans or other articles from the labeling machine by a continuous operation. I wish it understood that in the following specification where I may refer to my improved machine as being primarily intended for boxing cans it will be understood that it might be used for boxing within the scope of theap other forms of containers and articles and I will not limit myself to the specific use for cans.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide the substantially horizontal frame 1 having the auxiliary frame or extension 2. The frames are supported by the adjustable legs 3, and as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings the frames will preferably be supported in a slightly inclined position so that the cans or other articles will be more readily fed, by gravity, from the guideway into position relative to the ejecting mechanism. Extending upwardly from the auxiliary frame 2, adjacent the outer end thereof, are the transversely spaced standards 4 connected intermediate the ends by a transversely extending bolt 5. Extending transversely between the side rails of the auxiliary frame 2, intermediate the ends of the frame, are the longitudinally spaced bars 6 having the aligned openings '7 for slidably supporting the rod 8 said rod having an enlarged head 9 formed on inner end and has secured thereto a collar 19 forming an abutment for one end of a coiled spring 11 which surrounds the rod 8, the opposite end of the coiled spring engaging the outer face of one of the transversely extending bars 6 as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Secured to the rod 8, by means of the set screw 12 or other suitable fastening is the block or casting 13 and secured to each end of the block or casting 13 is a roller 14 which operates on the lower flange of the side rails of the auxiliary frame 2, these side rails of the frame being of channel formation with the open faces extending inwardly. Leather washers or other suitable buffer members 15 are positioned on the rod 8 between the block or casting 13 and the outer face of the transversely extending bar 6 adjacent thereto. Slidably mounted between the side rails of the auxiliary frame 2, adjacent the inner end thereof, is the block or casting 16, a roller 17 being secured to each end of the block or casting and engaged with the lower flanges of the side rails of the frame as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Carried by and extending upwardly from the block or casting 13 are the transversely spaced uprights or standards 18 connected at their upper ends by the cross plate 19. Carried by and extending upwardly from the block or casting 16 are the transversely spaced uprights or standards 20 connected at their upper ends by means of the cross plate 21. The upper ends of the uprights or standards 20 are outwardly bent as shown at 22, more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the ends of the cross plate 21 extend flush with the outer edges of the out-turned portions. The purpose of this will be later described more in detail. Connecting the uprights or standards 18 and 20, adjacent their upper ends, are the longitudinally extending bars or plates 23, the outer ends of which are outwardly flared as shown at 24 more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Secured to the uprights or standard 18 and 20, just beneath the bars or plates 23 are angle iron bars 25 the inwardly extending horizontal portions 26 of which are provided with the longitudinally spaced opening 27 and 28 for a purpose to be later described. Secured to the uprights or standards 20, and to the horizontally extending flanges 26 of the angle bars 25, adjacent the outer ends of the openings 27, are the angle bars 29 having the inwardly extending horizontal portions 30. The angle bars 29 are vertically spaced from the bars 25 as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Secured to the uprights or standards 20, and to the horizontal flanges 26 of the angle iron bars 25, adjacent the ends of the openings 28 thereof, are the angle bars 31 having the horizontal flange 32. The angle iron bars 31 are vertically spaced from the angle iron bars 29 as shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Bars 33 are secured to the under surface of the flanges 30 of the angle iron bars 29 and to the under surface of the horizontal portions 26 of the angle iron bars 25, adjacent the inner end of the opening 28 thereof, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. Vertically extending side plates 34 are secured to the angle iron bars 25, 29 and 31, intermediate the ends thereof, and these side plates are connected by the rod 35.

Pivotally connected at 36, to the standards 4, is a plate 3'7, more particularly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, having the inwardly directed transversely spaced fingers 38, the inner ends of which are adapted to ride upon the horizontal portions or flanges 26 of the angle iron bars 25, adjacent the outer ends thereof, as more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. The purpose of this plate and associated fingers will be later described more in detail.

Positioned adjacent each end of the block or casting 16 and rotatably mounted between the block or casting and the outwardly extending portions 22 of the uprights 20 are the vertically extending rods 39, a toothed segment 40 being secured to the lower end of each of the rods as shown more particularly in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Carried by each of the rods 39 are a plurality of vertically spaced hook members 41, the ends of which are adapted, during certain movements of the machine, to overlie the space between the inner ends of the angle iron track members 25, 29 and 31 to arrest the movement of cans or the like passing over the tracks, the cans being indicated at 42 and the engagement of' the hook members with the cans being more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Slidably mounted in the auxiliary frame 2 and positioned between the block or casting 16 and the cross bars 6 is a block or casting 43 to which is secured, by means of the set screws 44 or other suitable fastenings, the transversely spaced horizontal rack bars 45, the teeth of which mesh with the segments 40 secured to the rods 39. A horizontal roller 46 is secured to each end of the block or casting 43 and is adapted to engage the side faces of the angle iron side members of the auxiliary frame 2. When the block or casting 43 is op"rated in a manner to be later described the rack bars 45 will cause the rods 39 to be rotated to in turn move the hook members 41. A rod 4'7 is secured to the block or casting 43 and extends loosely through the block or casting 16 as shown more particularly in Fig. 7 of the drawings. A coiled spring 43 surrounds the rod between the inner face of the block or casting 43 and the inner surface of the outer face of the block or casting 16, the spring normally having a tendency to separate the two blocks or castings.

The mechanism described above is what may be termed the means or mechanism for feeding the cans or other articles to the ejecting mechanism to be later described. In other words the angle iron members 25, 29 and 31 form tracks or guideways over which the cans are adapted to pass and be fed to the ejecting mechanism. The cans are initially fed to the angle iron members or tracks 25, entering at the outer end thereof from a labeling machine or the like, and when the cans pass over the opening 28 they will drop therethrough onto the angle iron members or tracks 31. When these tracks have become filled the cans will continue their passage over the angle iron members until the opening 27 is reached and will then pass through the opening 27 onto the angle iron members or tracks 29. When these tracks have been filled the cans will continue their movement over the tracks 25. When in one position of movement the cans will continue their movement from the tracks into position for the ejecting members to operate thereon but when the tracks or guideways are in another position the cans will be held thereon and prevented from further movement to the ejecting mechanism.

The ejecting mechanism includes a box-lilac structure including the side plates 49 and 55 and the bottom plate 51. The plate 49 has the horizontally extending vertically spaced elongated openings 52 and the plate has a central opening 53, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, through which the cans 42 are adapted to pass from the guideway or tracks, and the vertically spaced horizontal elongated openings 54.- on each side of the opening 53. Supported between the side plates 49 and 50 of the box-like structure are the intermediate vertically spaced plates and 56 the plate 55 being in proper alignment to receive cans or the like from the tracks 29 whereas the plate 56 is in alignment to receive the cans or the like from the tracks 25. The cans from the tracks 31 will pass onto the bottom plate 51. This construction is more particularly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The box-like structure is open at either end, at right angles to the longitudinal center of the machine, and hingedly connected at 57, at each open end of the box-like structure, is an open rectangularly shaped frame 58 normally held in raised position by the latch members 59, as more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings. Extending outwardly from each of the frames 58, from the top, bottom and side edges thereof, are the horizontal arms which are adapted to support the box 61 into which the cans are adapted to be packed. The open side of the box is placed over the arms and when filled the latch members 59 will be released to allow the frames 58 to drop into the inclined position as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings or into a vertical position if desired. The arms 60 are so spaced apart that when the cans are ejected into the box they will be supported by the arms with the lower tier or row of cans spaced from the inner surface of the box as shown more particularly in Fig. 9 of the drawings. At 62 I have indicated generally roller conveyors which receive the filled boxes from the supporting arms 60. When the supporting arms 60 are dropped into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the foremost rollers of the conveyors 62 will engage the box and aid in drawing the same from the arms. In removing the box will be slightly raised and thereby engage the peripheries of the lower row of cans which depend between and below the arms. This raises the cans of all rows or tiers from the arms and allows the box to be slid off of the arms without frictional engagement of the cans on the arms. The outer ends of the conveyor are supported by the adjustable legs 63. The conveyors are operated through means of the chains 64 and 65 which in turn are operated through means of sprocket wheels mounted upon the shaft 66.

Ejecting means are provided for ejecting the cans or other articles from the box-like structure, through the open ends thereof, and into the boxes supported by the arms 60. This ejecting means includes a frame which surrounds: the box-like structure and which includes the side plates 67, the top plate 68, and the bottom plate 69. Secured between and carried by the side plates 67 are the vertically spaced pairs of rods 75 from adjacent each end, of each pair of which depends a plate 71. A rod 72 is supported adjacent each end of each of the plates 71 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings and these rods 72 are adapted to engage the ends of the cans 42 for ejecting the same in a manner to be later described. The rods will through the openings 52 and 54 formed in the side plates and 50, respectively, of the box-like structure.

Supported adjacent that end of the frame 1, opposite to that to which the auxiliary frame 2 is attached, by means of the brace bars 73 is a bearing 74 for the vertically extending 75, the lower end of which, extends through the end of the frame as shown more particularly Fig. 4 of the drawings and has secured thereto the toothed segment 76 which normally meshes with the beveled gear 77 secured on the shaft 66 by means of the set screw 78 or other suitable fastening. Secured to the upper end of the shaft is the arm 79 provided. adjacent its outer end, with an elongated opening 83, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the dra" igs. The arm is normally connected to the top plate 68 of the ejecting frame by means of the bolt 81 which extends through the elongated opening 86. This bolt 81, by means of the nut 82, also acts for se curing the handle 83 to the ejecting frame for manual operation thereof in a manner to be later described. An arm 84 is secured to the shaft 75, adjacent the lower end thereof. and is provided adjacent its outer end with an elongated opening 85 through which extends a projection 85 secured. to and carried by the lower plate 69 of the ejecting frame. This projection 85 normally engages one longitudinal edge of a plate 87, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, said plate being provided with the arcuate shaped opening 88, the ends 39 of which, are curved in a direction opposite to the normal arc of the slot 88. Carried by the arm 84 and extending through the elongated opening 85 thereof a pin or bolt which'operates in the arcuate shaped slot 88 of the plate 87 and the curved end extensions with its lower end connected to one end of a link 91, the opposite end of said link being secured by means of the bolt 92 to the underside of the block or casting 43 as shown more particularly in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Freely rotatable on the shaft 65 are the beveled gears 93 and 94 which are normally meshed with the beveled gear 95 secured to end of a drive shaft 96 adapted to be operated from any suitable source of power such as an electric motor or the like. Keyed upon the shaft 66 and slidahle between the gears 93 and 94 is a clutch collar 97 having teeth 98 formed on the ends thereof and adapted to be engaged with teeth 99 formed on the inner faces of the gears 93 and 94.. The clutch collar is operated through means of the depending arms 100 which have inwardly extending pins or projections 101 operating in the circumferentially extending groove 15,2 of the collar. The depending arms 100 are supported by the horizontal shaft 103 rotatably mounted in the bearings 104 depending from the frame 1. Secured adjacent opposite ends or" the shaft 103 are the oppositely directed arms 105 and 106, the arm 105 being connected by means of a link 10'? with the foot treadle 108 pivotally connected at 109 to the support 110. Connected to the arm 106 is a link 111 which is connected to the foot treadle 112 pivotally connected at 113 with the support 114:. Adjustably mounted on the shaft 193 are the contact members 115, 116,117 and 118. These contact members are held in adjusted positions on the shaft by means of the set screws 119, 120, 121 and 122 respectively. The contacts are of substantially diamond shape to provide bevel surfaces for a purpose which will be later described and are of such a length that when extending upwardly they will be in a position to be engaged by the pin or projection 86 carried by the lower plate of the ejecting frame.

Extending transversely of the frame 1 and parallel with the plate 87 is a plate 123 having the headed projections 124 extending from that edge adjacent the plate 87 and slidably supporting a bar 125 having elongated openings through which the projections 124 extend. This bar 125 is also provided with the longitudinally spaced openings 126 and 127 to receive a pin 128 which is interchangeable and may be placed in either of the openings 126 and 127. A coiled spring 129 has one end secured to the arm 105 which is connected to the shaft 133 and the opposite end is connected to the slidable bar 125, the spring passing over a pulley 130 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings. A similar coiled spring 131 has one end secured to the arm 106 and the opposite end connected to the bar 125, this spring passing over the pulley 132. The pin 128 which is carried by the bar 125 extends inwardly into a position to be engaged by the projection 86 depending from the lower plate of the ejecting frame.

Having fully described the detail construction I will now endeavor to more clearly bring out the operation. .As been previously stated the machine is adapted for operation either manually or to be operated by means of suitable power such as an electric motor or the like. When the machine is to be operated manually the set screw '73 will be rel ed so that the beveled gear 7'? may be slid upon the horizontal shaft to be disengaged from the segment 76. The machine can then be operated manually through means of the handle 83. When the machine is to be motor driven the beveled gear 77 will be engaged with the toothed segment 76 as is quite clearly illustrated in the drawings, the power being supplied through means of the shaft 96. As stated in the objects of the invention the machine may be operated to arge the cans or other articles to be boxed cinicr from the right hand side of the machine as shown in Figs. 3 and from the left hand side thereof, or alternately from both sides. It will be appreciated that this is of particular advantage in that in some locations it will only be possible to discharge the cans or other articles from one side of the machine whereas in other locations it might be possible to discharge from both side:- of the machine. The cans or other articles to be boxed are fed to the ejecting mechanism through the guideway formed by the angle iron track members 25, 29 and 31. The cans may be delivered to the guideway from any suitable source such as a labeling machine. The cans will be initially fed over the plate 37, which is pivotally connected to the stationary standards 4 supported, by the auxiliary frame 2 and, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the fingers 38, carried by the plate 3'7, overlap the horizontal portions 26 of the angle iron track members 25. This allows for sliding movement of the guideway longitudinally of the auxiliary frame, in a manner to be later described, without forming a space between the plate 3'? and the outer end of the track. In its initial position the guideway is in such a position that the hook members 41 will be swung into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 so as to leave the end of the guideway open so that the cans or other articles may pass freely therefrom onto the plates 51, 55 and 56 of the box-like structure forming a part of the ejecting mechanism. Preferably the plates 51, 55 and 56 are of such a width as to accommodate four cans but it will be understood that they could equally as well be of a size to accommodate different numbers of cans. In the drawings 1 have illustrated the parts so assembled and positioned as to discharge the cans or other articles only from the left hand side of the machine as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings and have shown the parts coupled so as to adapt the machine to be motor driven from any suitable source of power. When in this position the stops 115, 116 and 118 are in a substantially vertical position on the horizontal shaft 103 whereas the stop 11'? is in substantially a horizontal position. The pin or projection 128 is in the opening 126 of the slidable plate or bar 125. Presuming now that the required number of cans 42 have passed into the box-like structure of the ejecting mechanism, a box is placed upon the supporting arm 60 on the left hand side of the machine with the open face inwardly to allow the cans to be passed therethrough. The operator will step upon the treadle 138 and thereby swing the arm 105 upwardly and 1e stop 116 into vertical position. This movement will throw the teeth of the clutch collar 97 into engagement with the beveled gear 125 and swing the stop 118 from engagement with the projection 86 and through means of the drive shaft 96 will rotate the shaft 66 to swing the segment 76, through means of the beveled gear 77, to in turn swing the arms '19 and 84. The initial movement of the arm 84 is illustrated in the bottom view disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawings and as the pin or projection 90 rides in the curved end of the slot 88 it pushes on the link 91 to slide the block or casting 43 towards the outer end of the auxiliary frame 2. This movement of the block or casting draws, at the same time, the toothed rods 45 which mesh with the segmental plates 40 which are on the vertically extending rods 39 at the inner end of the guideway. Moving the segments, as described, throws the hook members 41 inwardly as shown more particularly in Figs. 5, 7 and 8 of the drawings to overlie the space between the track ways of the guide member and to engage the cans as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings to prevent any additional cans from passing into the box-like structure of the ejecting mechanism. A further swinging movement of the arm 84 causes the sliding block or casting 43 to engage the enlarged head 9 on the rod 8 and this forces the rod, against the action of the coiled spring 11, towards the outer end of the auxiliary frame 2. As the rod 8 is secured to the slidable block or casting 13 it moves the block or casting towards the outer end of the frame and this movement carries with it the uprights 18 which in turn draws the angle iron track members 25, 29 and 31 which being secured to the uprights will draw the same rearwardly to slide the block or casting 16 thereby moving the entire guideway formation towards the outer end of the auxiliary frame 2 and away from the box-like structure of the ejecting mechanism. A further swinging movement of the arm 84 brings the pin or pro jection 99 into the arcuate shaped opening 88 and causes no further movement of the guideway construction. The upper arm 79 swings simultaneously with the arm 84 and in its swinging movement moves the ejecting frame formed by the plates 67, 68 and G9 longitudinally of the box-like structure and engages the left hand rod 72 of the ejecting mechanism with the ends of the cans which are on the plates 51, 55 and 56 and forces said cans towards the left hand side of the machine as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and of the drawings. When the cans have been ejected from alignment with the guideway the arm 84 and link 91 will be substantially in straight alignment. its the arm 84 has been swung as just above described the projection 86 has traveled to the left as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and will first engage the pin 128 on the sliding bar 125. A further movement of the projection 86 will slide the rod or bar 125 to the left and thereby place the coiled spring 131 under tension. A further movement will bring the projection 86 into engagement with the stop 116 and due to the beveled surfaces of the stop will swing the same to rotate the rod 103 and swing the clutch collar into neutral position to stop the movement of the ejecting mechanism. As the coiled spring 131 has been placed under tension it will draw upwardly on the arm 106 and snap the teeth of the clutch collar into engagement with the teeth of the beveled gear 94 and reverse the movement of the ejecting mechanism to return said mechanism to its original position and to draw the guideway towards the box like structure of the ejecting mechanism and to swing the hooked members 41 to again allow cans to be discharged from the guideway into the box-like structure for further operation. It might be said that when the projection 86 engages the stop 118 on its return movement that it again rotates the rod 103 to throw the clutch collar in neutral position. For further operation it is necessary for the operator to again step upon the treadle 108. It will be understood that the first set of cans ejected from alignment with the guideway will not pass onto the supporting arms 60 but upon successive operations the cans first ejected will be moved forward by engagement with the next 1 line of cans. When the box has been filled the latch members 59 are reieased so as to allow the arms 60 to assume an inclined position whereby the rollers of the conveyors 62 will engage with the outer face or surface of the box to draw the same from the supporting arms with the cans or other articles therein.

When it is desired to discharge the cans or other articles from the right hand side of the machine as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings the operation is reversed. To eject from the right hand side of the machine the ejecting frame with its associated parts will be moved to the left hand side of the machine for initial operation. The stop 116 will be adjusted to extend into horizontal position whereas the stop 117 will be raised to extend in substantially vertical position. The pin 128 will be removed placed in the opening 127. To start the ejecting operation, to the right hand side of the machine,

the operator will step upon the treadle 112 and this movement will rotate the shaft 103 and bring the teeth of the collar 97 into engagement with the teeth formed on the face of the beveled gear 94. The depending projection 88 from the ejecting frame, in its movement towards the right of the machine, will contact with the pin 128 to place the spring 129 under tension and will then engage the stop 117 to rotate the shaft 103 to bring the collar 97 into neutral position. The spring 129 being under tension will then snap the collar from neutral position so that the teeth on the end thereof will engage the teeth on the face of the beveled gear 125. This reverses the movcm .it and carries the ejecting i'nechanism back to its original position and when the proje ion 86 engages the stop 115 it will ai'zin the clutch collar 97 into neutral position.

It will be understood that when ejecting only from one side of the machine that the ejecting th its associated parts will only pass,

movement, to a position in alignment with the guideway. However, when it is desired to eject alternately from first one side of the machine and then the other the ejecting frame and its associated parts will pass from one side the guideway to the opposite side. When ejecting from both sides of the machine the stops 118 and 117 will both be swung to extend into horizontal position with the stops 115 and 118 extending in substantially vertical position. When ejecting from both sides of the machine there will two operators, one positioned on each side. With the parts as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the operator will initially step upon the treadle 1G8 and this movement will rotate the shaft 103 to siide the clutch collar 97 to engage the teeth thereof with the teeth on the face of the beveled gear 125. The arms 79 and 84 will be swung. as previously described, to move the guideway from the box-like structure of the ejecting mechanism and to draw the hooked members to stop movement of the cans and to move the ejecting frame and associated parts to the left to eject the cans towards the left hand side of the machine. A continued movement will bring the depending projection 86 into engagement with the stop 115 to cause the clutch collar to move into neutral position and to stop the ejecting movement. As the pin or projection 90 rides into the curved end 89 on the opposite side of the slot 88 from which. it is initially received it will draw the guideway back into its original position and release the hooked members from the cans to allow the cans to roll into the boxlike structure and be ejected upon movement of the ejecting mechanism. With the new set of cans in position the operator on the right will step upon the treadle 112 and this movement will rotate the shaft 103 to engage the teeth of the clutch collar 97 with the teeth on the face of the beveled gear 94. The clutch will be thrown to neut al position upon the engagement of the projec..-ion 86 with the stop 118. The movement of the guideway towards and away from the machine will be the same as that previously described. In ejecting from both sides of the machine the cans. on each ejecting movement are moved directly into position upon the supporting arms 60 and into the box supported thereby. When it is desired to operate the machine entirely by hand the set screw 78 will be released and the beveled gear 77 slid upon the horizontal shaft 66 so as to be disengaged from the toothed segment '76. The operator then grasps the handle 83 and by moving the same towards the right or left of the machine, as the case may be, will eject the cans which are in the path of the ejecting members. It will be understood that in the operation the cans or other articles will be fed to the box-like structure of the ejecting mechanism in the same way as that described for the driven operation and the guideway will be moved. relative to the ejecting mechanism in the same manner as previously described. The hand operation will cause the swinging of the upper arm '79 and this arm through means of the vertical shaft 75 will cause a swinging movement of the arm 84..

The coiled spring 48 surrounding the rod 47 will be normally compressed between the blocks or castings l6 and and will aid in a quick separation oi the heads upon movement oi the ejecting mechanism. lthen the rod 8 is forced towards the outer end of the auxiliary frame by the slidable block or casting 43 the spring 11 surrounding said rod will be placed under compression. When the spring is allowed to expand it will cause a quick return or sliding movement of the block or casting 13 to aid in quickly moving the guideway back towards the box-like structure of the ejecting mechanism.

Attention might again be directed to the fact that the supporting arms 60 are so spaced apart that when the box 61 is upon the arms, as shown more particularly in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the cans or other articles may be positioned upon the arms but when the box is raised in removing the cans will be raised from the arms, so that no undue friction will be caused in removing the boxes, with the cans or other articles therein, when the boxes are filled.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A boxing machine or" the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed into the member, means for ejecting the articles from the member, and means for bodily sliding the guideway away from the member during the ejecting movement.

2. A boxing machine of the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed to the member, means for ejecting the articles from the member, and means for bodily sliding the guideway away from the member and stopping the movement of the articles over the guideway during the ejecting movement.

3. A boxing machine of the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed into the member, means for slidably mounting the guideway relative to the memmeans for ejecting the articles from the member, means for sliding the guideway away from the receiving member during the ejecting operation, and means for holding the articles in the guideway while moved away from the receiving member.

4. A boxing machine of the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed into the member, means for slidably mounting the guideway relative to the member, means for ejecting the articles from the member, means for sliding the guideway away from the receiving member during the ejecting operation, and means for holding the articles in the guideway while moved away from the receiving member, said last mentioned means being operated by movement of the guideway.

5. A boxing machine of the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed into the member, means for slidably mounting the guideway relative to the member, means for ejecting the articles from the member, means for sliding the guideway away from the receiving member during the ejecting operation, and hook members operable to engage the articles while the guideway is positioned from the receiving member to prevent movement of the articles over the guideway.

6. A boxing machine of the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed into the member, means for slidably mounting the guideway relative to the member, means for ejecting the articles from the member, means for sliding the guideway away from the receiving member during the ejecting operation, and hook members operable to engage the articles while the guideway is positioned from the receiving member to prevent movement of the articles over the guideway, said hooked members being operated by movement of the guideway.

'7. A boxing machine of the character described including a member adapted to receive the articles to be boxed, a guideway over which the articles are fed into the member, said guideway being adjustable relative to the receiving member, means for ejecting the articles from the receiving member, hook members carried by the guideway and normally positioned to allow movement of the articles over the guideway when in one position of adjustment to be discharged into the receiving member, and means for operating the hook members to position them to engage the articles and prevent movement thereof over the guideway while in another position of adjustment.

8. A boxing machine of the character described including a member to receive the articles to be boxed, a slide for ejecting the articles from the member, and selective means for positioning and operating the slide whereby the articles may be ejected from either or both sides of the member, said selective means including means positioned at opposite sides of the receiving member for manually starting the ejecting movement of the slide towards either side of the receiving member, and means for automatically stopping the movement of the slide after each ejecting movement thereof.

9. A boxing machine of the character described including a member to receive the articles to be boxed, a slide for ejecting the articles from the member, and selective means for positioning and operating the slide whereby the articles may be ejected from either or both sides of the receiving member, said selective means including means positioned at opposite sides of the receiving member for manually starting the ejecting movement of the slide towards either side of the receiving member, and means in the path of movement of the slide and engageable to automatically stop the movement of the slide after each ejecting movement thereof.

CHARLES MILTON HESSON. 

